U.S. patent number 7,170,401 [Application Number 10/889,144] was granted by the patent office on 2007-01-30 for system to detect the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle.
Invention is credited to Charles J. Cole.
United States Patent |
7,170,401 |
Cole |
January 30, 2007 |
System to detect the presence of an unattended child in a
vehicle
Abstract
A system detects the presence of an unattended child within a
vehicle and when the child is so detected, disables the vehicle's
door locks by preventing doors from being locked or remaining
locked and sounds an alarm. The presence of a child is detected by
measuring pressure on the back seat and measurements above a
threshold limit signify a child is present or if any of the rear
seat belts are buckled a child is detected. The system can be shut
off by the driver, although the system has an override in the
shutoff mode so that if the temperature rises above or falls below
a certain level and the presence of a child is detected, the alarm
is sounded. In this mode, the presence of the child can also be
detected by a motion sensor.
Inventors: |
Cole; Charles J. (Fort Mill,
SC) |
Family
ID: |
37681898 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/889,144 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/457; 340/439;
340/573.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
2/002 (20130101); B60N 2/26 (20130101); B60R
25/10 (20130101); G08B 21/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60Q
1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;340/457,438,439,457.1,425.5,430,426.12,426.24,426.28,573.1,667
;701/44,45,1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Swarthout; Brent A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Loffler; Peter
Claims
I claim:
1. A detection system for detecting an unattended mammal within a
vehicle, the vehicle having an ignition switch, a seat, a door
having a lock, an alarm, and a seat belt buckle proximate the seat,
the detection system comprising: a system switch; a temperature
sensor installed within the vehicle a detector for detecting the
presence of a mammal within the vehicle; and such that when the
system switch is on and the ignition switch has been shut off and
the detector detects the presence of the mammal, the lock of the
door is disabled and such that when the system switch is off and
temperature senses a temperature that exceeds a threshold limit and
the detector detects the presence of the mammal, the alarm is
activated.
2. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein the lock of the door
is disabled only if a driver of the vehicle has exited the
vehicle.
3. The detection system as in claim 2 wherein the driver of the
vehicle has exited the vehicle whenever a door proximate a seat of
the driver has been opened after the ignition has been shut
off.
4. The detection system as in claim 2 wherein the alarm of the
vehicle is activated if the presence of the mammal continues to be
detected after the expiration of a fixed amount of time after the
driver has exited the vehicle when the system switch is in the on
position.
5. The detection system as in claim 4 wherein a communication
system of the vehicle is activated when the alarm is activated in
order to alert authorities.
6. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein the weight pressure
on the rear seat is measured and if the weight pressure is above a
fixed threshold the presence of the mammal is detected otherwise,
the detector does not detect the presence of the mammal.
7. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein if seat belt buckle
is buckled the detector detects the presence of the mammal and if
the seat belt buckle is unbuckled, the detector does not detect the
presence of the mammal.
8. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein if motion is detected
within the vehicle the detector detects the presence of the mammal
and if motion is not detected within the vehicle, the detector does
not detect the presence of the mammal.
9. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein when the system
switch is on the weight pressure on the rear seat is measured and
if the weight pressure is above a fixed threshold or if seat belt
buckle is buckled the detector detects the presence of the mammal
otherwise the detector does not detect presence of the mammal and
wherein when the system switch is off the weight pressure on the
rear seat is measured and if the weight pressure is above a fixed
threshold or if motion is detected within the vehicle the detector
detects the presence of the mammal otherwise the detector does not
detect presence of the mammal.
10. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein when the system
switch is off and the alarm is activated the lock of the door is
disabled.
11. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein the alarm comprises
a horn or siren.
12. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein the alarm system
comprises lights of the vehicle flashing.
13. The detection system as in claim 1 wherein the alarm comprises
a horn or siren or lights of the vehicle flashing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system that detects the presence
of an unattended child in a vehicle in order to sound an alarm and
unlock the vehicle's doors if the presence of a child is
detected.
2. Background of the Prior Art
While most parents cannot fathom the possibility, sadly many
children are left unattended in a vehicle each year, sometimes with
tragic results. Some parents and caregivers, not wanting to go
through the trouble of unbuckling and rebuckling a child, will
often leave the child or children in a vehicle while the person
runs a quick errand such as running into the supermarket. Sometimes
the child is left for longer periods of time as the parent or
caregiver goes to work with the child in tow, or worse, goes to a
nightclub or other adult oriented venue. Still other times the
child is simply forgotten about as the parent or caregiver is
running about town, especially if the caregiver is not the parent
and is not accustomed to having children in the back seat on a
regular basis.
Fortunately, most incidents of child neglect within a vehicle have
benign results. Even when no adverse occurrences are occasioned on
the unattended child, the child is left unprotected and potentially
at the mercy of passersby. However, sometimes the child suffers
serious injuries or death as a result of being in a vehicle for a
prolonged amount of time. In summertime weather, the temperatures
inside a closed vehicle can reach 140 degrees or more, far too high
for any person, especially a child to survive in for prolonged
periods of time.
Although most people will report an unattended child in a vehicle
to police, many people do not pay attention to the insides of other
peoples' vehicles in a parking lot and simply do not see an
unattended child. Window tinting and vehicles high off the ground
oftentimes make detecting the presence of a child difficult,
especially when the child is within a car seat and gives out no
substantial silhouette against the vehicle's windows.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art that will alert
passersby to the presence of an unattended child within a vehicle
so that the appropriate authorities can be summoned by the
passersby. Such a system should give any intervenors that rescue
the unattended child quick and easy access to the interior of the
vehicle and thus the unattended child. Additionally, such a system
should automatically contact the authorities whenever the system
detects an unattended child through the vehicle's satellite or
similar communication system, such as the ONSTAR system marketed by
General Motors, TELE AID marketed by the Mercedes division of
Daimler Chrysler, etc., for vehicles equipped with such
systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The system to detect the presence of an unattended child in a
vehicle of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs
in the art by automatically detecting the presence of an unattended
child and once so detected, activating an alarm in order to alert
passersby to call authorities or to take action themselves. The
system to detect the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle
prevents the vehicle's doors being locked or remaining locked and
uses the vehicle's satellite or similar communication system to
contact authorities to the presence of an unattended child within
the vehicle. The system to detect the presence of an unattended
child in a vehicle has a disable feature in order to deactivate the
system with the disable feature itself, being overridden upon the
occurrence of certain events.
The system to detect the presence of an unattended child in a
vehicle of the present invention is installed in a vehicle that has
an ignition, a seat, a door having a lock including a driver's
door, an alarm, and a seat belt buckle proximate the seat, with the
system to detect the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle
comprising an on/off switch, a temperature sensor installed within
the vehicle, and a detector for detecting the presence of a mammal
(child) within the vehicle. When the switch is on and the ignition
has been shut off and the detector detects the presence of the
mammal, the lock of the door is disabled and such that when the
switch is off and the temperature sensor senses a temperature that
exceeds a threshold limit, either above an upper limit or below a
lower limit, and the detector detects the presence of the mammal,
the alarm is activated. The lock of the door is disabled only if a
driver of the vehicle has exited the vehicle. The driver of the
vehicle has been deemed to have exited the vehicle whenever a door
proximate a seat of the driver has been opened after the ignition
has been shut off. The alarm of the vehicle is activated if the
presence of the mammal continues to be detected after the
expiration of a fixed amount of time after the driver has exited
the vehicle when the switch is in the on position. A communication
system of the vehicle is activated when the alarm is activated in
order to alert authorities, if the vehicle is equipped with such a
communication system. When the switch is on the weight pressure on
the rear seat is measured and if the weight pressure is above a
fixed threshold or if the seat belt buckle is buckled the detector
detects the presence of the mammal otherwise the detector does not
detect presence of the mammal and wherein when the switch is off
the weight pressure on the rear seat is measured and if the weight
pressure is above a fixed threshold or if motion is detected within
the vehicle the detector detects the presence of the mammal
otherwise the detector does not detect presence of the mammal
(detection occurring only if the temperature threshold has been
reached). When the switch is off and the alarm is activated the
lock of the door is disabled. The alarm comprises a horn or siren
or lights of the vehicle either on or flashing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the system to detect the presence of
an unattended child in a vehicle of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a child within a car seat in a
vehicle equipped with the system to detect the presence of an
unattended child in a vehicle of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the system to detect the presence of an
unattended child in a vehicle in operational mode.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the system to detect the presence of an
unattended child in a vehicle in disable mode.
Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the
several views of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the system to detect
the presence of an unattended child in a vehicle of the present
invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised
of a standard vehicle 12 that has a seat 14, seat belt buckles 16
located proximate the seat 14, one or more rear doors 18, a
driver's door 20, a door latch 22 on the driver's door 20 and each
rear door 18, lights including headlights 24 and tail lights 26, an
ignition switch 28, a horn or a siren 30, or both, and windows 32.
The vehicle 12 may also be equipped with a communication system 34
such as the ONSTAR or TELE AID that can be used to summon aid by
the driver or that automatically summons aid upon a certain vehicle
crash event. Such systems use either satellite or cellular
communication technology to communicate to a staffed communication
center and many such systems give the GPS coordinates of the
vehicle 12 to the operator at the communication center so that
authorities can be directed to the vehicle 12 if the driver is
incapacitated in any manner.
One or more pressure sensors 36 are located underneath the rear
seats 14, the pressure sensors 36 detecting weight placed on the
seats 14, the specific design of each pressure sensor 36 being of
any conventional design known in the art. The pressure sensor 36
can be located underneath each seat 14, except possibly the
driver's seat, or as most children C are transported in the rear
seats of a vehicle 12 due to the powerful front seat airbags,
especially smaller children C those that can least afford to be
left unattended in a vehicle 12, the pressure sensor 36 can also be
located underneath the front seat 14, although drivers are less apt
to forget about a passenger sitting directly beside the driver.
Each seat belt buckle 16 that is located proximate a seat 14 that
has a pressure sensor 36 associated therewith has a seat belt
buckle sensor 38 that detects whether the seat belt buckle 16 is
buckled or unbuckled. The seat belt buckle sensor 38 is of any
conventional design known in the art. The door latches 22 on the
driver's door 20 and on the rear doors 18 each have a door latch
sensor 40 that detects if the particular door 18 or 20 is open or
closed. A temperature sensor 42 is located within the interior of
the vehicle 12, the temperature sensor 42 detecting the temperature
within the interior of the vehicle 12. The temperature sensor 42 is
of any conventional design known in the art. One or more motion
detectors 44 are located within the vehicle 12 for detecting motion
within the vehicle 12. Advantageously, although not necessarily,
the motion detectors 44 are infrared detectors that do not
penetrate glass so that only motion within the vehicle's interior
is detected and are otherwise of any conventional design known in
the art. The motion detectors 44 should be able to detect motion
within the seats 14 as well as on the floor boards of the vehicle
12 for children C that have fallen or climbed off of the seats 14.
The system to detect the presence of an unattended child in a
vehicle 10 has an on/off system switch 46 for enabling and
disabling the system 10. The system switch 46 may be a simple throw
switch, although, advantageously, will be a keyed switch in order
to make the switching of the system 10 off a very deliberate act. A
controller 48 controls operation of the system 10 and interfaces
with other components of the vehicle 12.
In operation, the switch 46 is placed in the on position as
illustrated by the flow chart of FIG. 3 and the system 10 is armed
when the ignition switch 28 is turned to the off position 50. The
system 10 first determines whether the vehicle 12 has been exited
by the driver 52. This is accomplished by polling the door latch
sensor 40 on the driver's door 20 to see if the driver's door 20
has been opened after ignition off indicating the driver has exited
the vehicle 12 or by detecting whether the key has been completely
removed from the ignition. Alternately, and not illustrated, a
pressure sensor 36 can be placed underneath the driver's seat and
this particular sensor 36 is polled and if this sensor 36 fails to
detects weight above a threshold amount, the driver is deemed to
have exited the vehicle 12. If the driver has been deemed to have
exited the vehicle 12, then the system detects whether a child (or
other mammal such as the family dog) is present within the vehicle
12. This is accomplished in one of two ways. If any of the pressure
sensors 36 detect a weight above a certain threshold 54, the system
10 detects the presence of a child C within the vehicle 12. The
threshold weight is set sufficiently high so that a small load such
as a newspaper or a small grocery bag do not rise above the
threshold limit thereby detecting a child C. Alternately, the
system 10 checks the seat belt buckle sensors 38 to determine if
any of the buckles 16 are buckled 56. If any seat belt buckles 16
are buckled, then a child C is detected. The use of the two
alternatives acts as a fail-safe in that the pressure sensors 36
may fail to detect a very small child C that together with the
child seat S fail to go above the weight threshold limit, then the
fact that the child seat S is buckled in, the seat belt buckle
sensors 38 will detect the presence of a child C. Similarly, some
children C unbuckle themselves or some parents simply do not buckle
the children C in. In such a circumstance, the pressure sensor 36
detects the presence of a child. If the presence of a child C is
not detected, then the system goes into standby mode 58. If the
presence of a child C is detected, the system 10 disables the locks
on the doors 18 and 20 of the vehicle 12, meaning that the doors 18
and 20 cannot lock and if the doors 18 and 20 are already locked,
they are unlocked and the system 10 monitors whether a rear door 18
of the vehicle has been opened 60, indicating a parent retrieving
the child C from the back seat 14 of the vehicle 12, by polling the
door latch sensors 40 associated with the rear doors 18 or whether
pressure has been relieved from one of the seats 14 as measured by
the pressure sensor 36, indicating a parent lifting the child C out
of the seat, either the vehicle's seat 14 or a strapped in child
seat S. If the rear door 18 has been opened or the pressure has
been lifted from the seats 14, then the system determines that the
child C has been removed by the parent and the system goes into
standby mode. If the rear door has nor been opened or the pressure
from the seat 14 has not been relieved after a present amount of
time, the alarm of the vehicle 12 is activated 62. The alarm that
is activated can be the horn 30 of the vehicle and/or the siren of
the vehicle's security system if the vehicle 12 is so equipped
and/or the lights 24 and/or 26 of the vehicle either coming on or
even better flashing either in straightforward or wig wag fashion.
If after the alarm system is activated and the alarm is not
disengaged and pressure is not relieved from the seat 14 and the
seat belt buckles 16 are not unbuckled within a preset amount of
time, the communication system 34 of the vehicle 12, if so
equipped, is activated 64 by summoning authorities including giving
the authorities the GPS location coordinates of the vehicle 12.
If the system switch 46 is placed in the off position 66 as
illustrated by the flow chart of FIG. 4, which can be the case for
a parent that has a child seat S buckled in the vehicle 12,
indicating the presence of a child C even if the child C is not
actually present, yet is not transporting the child C on a
particular trip, the system 10 monitors the temperature within the
vehicle's interior 68 via the temperature sensor 42. If the
temperature rises above a certain threshold or falls below a
certain threshold, each indicating a dangerous condition, for an
unattended child C, the system 10 attempts to detect the presence
of a child C either by monitoring whether the pressure sensors 36
detect a weight above the threshold weight 70 or whether the motion
sensor 44 detects motion within the vehicle's interior 72. The seat
belt buckle sensors 38 are not used to detect for the presence of
the child C when the system switch 46 is in the off position, due
to the fact that the system switch 46 may have been placed in the
off position due to the fact that a seat belt buckle 16 was buckled
due to a car seat S being installed, yet the child C was not within
the seat on the particular trip. If the presence of a child C is
not detected the system goes into standby mode 58, otherwise the
alarm is activated 74 in the manner described above. Additionally,
the door locks may be disabled in the manner described above. If
after the alarm system is activated and the alarm is not disengaged
and pressure is not relieved from the seat 14 and the seat belt
buckles 16 are not unbuckled within a preset amount of time
(indicating the child not being rescued), the communication system
34 of the vehicle 12, if so equipped, is activated 76 by summoning
authorities including giving the authorities the GPS location
coordinates of the vehicle 12.
Whenever the system 10 is in standby mode, the system 10 resets
upon the next startup of the ignition switch 28. The controller 48
controls all aspects of the system 10 including monitoring each
sensor as needed, interacting with the various subsystems of the
vehicle 12 (security system, lights, if flashed or otherwise
illuminated, horn, if sounded, communication system 34 if present
and if activated, etc.).
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *